howitworks

Also some interesting patterns on LACs in that NYT database. While the Midwestern ones have been generous with merit aid - I guess to attract kids from other regions - it's interesting to see that Denison, DePauw, Kenyon and Grinnell also give merit aid to fewer freshmen now than they did in 2007-08, with Grinnell's award recipients down by 56%.

Denison and Kenyon raised their average awards, though, to $16,370 and$12,123, respectively. DePauw's dropped slightly to $17,007 and Grinnell's slipped to $9,549.

In addition to Rhodes, another LAC that looks good in this data is Furman in South Carollina. It gave merit aid to 34% more freshmen last year than it did in 2007-08 and which bumped up the average award by 2% in real terms to $15,379.

charlieschm

Some schools give out large amounts of merit aid for a reason. For example, one LAC gives out really great aid - because it is next to a slum.

howitworks

Ah! And which slum is that?

howitworks

I know that girls with great math backgrounds can get more merit aid at tech schools that have a 70/30 male/female ratio.

Is there any sign that guys are favored for merit aid at more liberal arts-focused schools that have close to 55-60% women?

ohiobassmom

howitworks, who knows. But S was offered very generous merit (and in two cases, music merit, if you will, by audition) at several schools on that list and while he has good test scores, UW GPS was only 3. So....maybe?